We here at Hard French love to work with the many businesses and people that contribute to the vibrancy our community and for this year’s Winter Ball we’re taking it to the next level!  We’ll be partnering with some of our favorite local businesses to bring all kinds of new and exciting activities, opportunities and experiences to all of our Hard Frenchers. Here’s some info about our partners and be sure to stay tuned for even more surprises from them and us in the weeks leading up to the ball!

ROOM 4
You can buy pre-sale tickets and avoid online service fees by visiting our good friends at Room 4 on Valencia Street, a kitsch-laden store specializing in great vintage furniture, clothing, housewares and accessories. While you’re there getting your ticket be sure to grab a flashy new bowtie or some vintage jewelryto complete your Winter Ball Outfit.

EL RIO

Get your Hard French nostalgia kick by visiting our home base of El Rio – the perfect spot to indulge in our unseasonably warm winters on the patio and to hunker down inside for all kindsa nighttime fun like Red Hots Burlesque and their famous Totally Fabulous Happy Hours every Friday with cheap drinks and free oysters on the half shell.

JUANITA MORE
Dance yourself into Winter Ball shape at one of the many parties hosted by the queen of San Francisco nightlife, and a personal inspiration of ours, Juanita More.  Her weekly Bootycall Wednesday at QBar and her monthly flogfest Beatpig at the Powerhouse are some of our favorite places to meet a babe.  Oh, and in case you’re hungry after all that sweating, Juanita More writes all about good eats on her new food blog!

FARM:TABLE
Satisfy all of your caffeine cravings and hunger pangs with some of our favorite Hard Frenchers, the crew at Farm:Table café in the Tender Nob.  It’s the best place in the city to sit around, drink hand-crafted espresso drinks (they make hearts in your cappuccino foam!) and cruise for babes – like our aforementioned partner, Juanita More, and our own DJ Carnita who are staples at their communal table.

If you’re searching for your perfect Winter Ball outfit be sure to stop in and see our friends at STONE PONY, a hot new queer owned boutique in the Mission (that also happens to showcase our favorite jewelry line – Babe Alert!). If you are in Santa Cruz, stop by the Saturn Cafe, our official Santa Cruz ticket seller! Find a date for the Ball at our favorite friendly neighborhood dyke bar, the LEXINGTON CLUB. Lastly, those hip folks at ZIPCAR are giving Hard French folks a deep discount, waiving the annual $60 membership fee to all Hard French attendees – just  follow this link to sign up!  All current zipcar members will receive a $10 credit after purchasing a ticket to the Winter Ball.

Whew, that’s a lotta shout outs — but ALL WORTH IT! Stop by and tell em Hard French sent ya!

Stay tuned as we’ll be announcing all kinds of fun stuff like advanced ticket sales, entertainment lineups and our lovely community partners soon.  FYI it’s not too early to start shopping for an outfit. 

HARD FRENCH SEASON FINALE
a saturday afternoon soul music dance party

I know it seems like summer, but winter is (technically) around the corner and it’s this time of year that Hard French bids you bon voyage and takes a 3 month sabbatical from our El Rio home. To send Hard French off in style we’re going to be extending the party for an extra hour, giving you 7 HOURS OF SOUL & bringing back two of our favorite guest DJ’s from… the past year, Paul Paul and Phengren Oswald!

November 5th, 2pm – 9pm
$7 – dancing and cruising
3pm – 4pm: $1 beers
3pm – 5pm: free BBQ until its all gone!

yr Hard French DJs:
DJ Carnita & DJ Brown Amy
playing the 60s girl groups, early ’70s soulful funk, boogaloo, garage & Northern Soul stompers

special guest DJs:
PAUL PAUL (Saturday Night Soul Party)
PHENGREN OSWALD (Explorist International Records)

w/ the Hard French Jiggalicious Dance Babes
“Babes shakin it down and making you move.”

As Always:
Hard French photo booth by Courtney Trouble to benefit the Kidspace at the Center. Did you know the Center has a KidSpace dedicated specifically to programming for LGBT families and their young ones?? Well they do! The Center offers early childhood classes & play activities for children 0-5 years old, activities & support for parents, and fun special parties like Halloween- where LGBT families can build community and grow together. HARD FRENCH HEARTS HOMOSEXUAL FAMILIES!

HARD FRENCH FUNKS THE VOTE
HARD FRENCH FUNKS THE VOTE is a month-long effort to make sure that you know who’s who, what’s what and get out there and vote on November 8th. Last month we hosted a gaggle off elected officials at Hard French and this month we’re excited to welcome THE LEAGUE OF YOUNG VOTERS who will be hanging out and passing out their awesome PISSED OFF VOTER GUIDES to give you the lowdown on the election. Learn more about the League at http://theleague.com/sf and check out their online voter guide at http://theballot.org/2011/sf.

HARD DANCING. HARD CRUISING. HARD FRENCH.

Huge thanks to our crew members Jorge Portillo and Tim Strong for pulling this together! Also — Aron Kanter and the sexiest dance crew any club could ask for  — the Hard French Jiggalicious Dance Babes.

Hard French won the Editor’s Pick for Best of the Bay! Yah!

Hard French is partnering with Public Works to put on MISSION UNITED – a celebration of all things Mission.  We are curating the Main Stage and are SUPER excited about QUEER QUMBIA, TWO MEN WILL MOVE YOU, AFROLICIOUS, and a live performance by TRES LINGERIE.  Also — ARCHETYPE shop is curating a fashion installation featuring our favorite — MAJOR BABE ALERT (a Pop Up Shop brought to you by the two DJs of our favorite dance party — STAY GOLD!).  There is actually SO much going on you should just read about it for yourself — and RSVP via facebook to get in for only $5 before 10:30pm!

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Mission United

“A party celebrating all things Mission”

The Deals:
– $5 admission between 8-10:30pm with Facebook Event RSVP.
– FREE food samples and drink specials between 8-10pm
– FREE Tequila tasters while they last and $2 shots
– DRINK SPECIALS: $3 special cocktail (till 11pm) and $3 beer (till midnight)

In the main room curated by HARD FRENCH:
– Hard French DJs (Carnita & Brown Amy)
– Afrolicious with live percussionists
– 2 Men Will Move You (Primo & Jordan)
– Tres Lingerie [Live PA]
– Qumbia Qrew playing Queer Qumbia!

In the OddJob Room:
– Lights Down Low DJ’s Sleazemore and Eli Glad
– Marco de la Vega (120 minutes)
– Shovelman
– Jonah and Christa Larrama

Trunk Show & Fashion Installation curated by Archetype Boutique
– Camile Bemer of Kucoon Designs
– Major Babe Alert: a Stay Gold Pop Up Shop
– Dear Mina
– Josie Adele
– Love and Keep
– Mission Statement Sf
– Sea Pony Couture
– Stone Pony Vintage
– Wood Thumb
– Venus Superstar

Tasty Food Selections from:
– Chile Lindo Empanadas
– Good Food Catering
– Taza

PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT MISSION NON-PROFITS:
– SFSmiles & the Homeless Prenantal Program
– Dolores Street Community Services

Hosted by Mission Mission Blog

Hey Homos!  Are you ready for Pride?  Many of you have been chirping at us and asking what times all of your favorite performers and parties will be happening throughout the day — so here’s a schedule!

Pre sale tickets are sold out but that doesn’t mean the party is over!  TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR ALL DAY LONG! There are lots of ways to win free tickets — just check in at The Cleeq, SF Bay Guardian, Mission Mission Blog and Broke Ass Stuart who will all be giving away tickets in the next week! Check out our facebook page to keep up to date on giveways at clubs too!  HARD FRENCH HEARTS LOS HOMOS — and we can’t wait to party with you on June 26th.  It just got better you sexy sexy gay.